plastic sandbox

With the onset of summer, the children went outside to play. The older children have their own activities, but the kids run straight to the playgrounds, where one of their favorite entertainments is the sandbox. But now the time has come to leave for the country, and parents begin to puzzle over what their child will do there. It is very expensive and difficult to build a full-fledged playground in the yard, but it will be just right to put a plastic sandbox.

What role does a plastic sandbox play in a child’s development?

Children’s plastic sandboxes will entice children for the whole day, and parents will have free time to work in the garden. Moreover, children of all ages love to play with sand. Modeling is not only entertainment. While playing with sand, children develop hand motor skills, and even thinking. The child learns to design castles, labyrinths, build simple figures.

As a rule, playing in a plastic sandbox does not happen alone. Be sure to visit the neighborhood children. The young representatives of a small company will have common interests. Toddlers will learn to make friends. The first disputes will arise over shovels or buckets. The guys will solve these problems themselves. They will learn to share toys, getting rid of such a negative trait as greed. Another positive feature is that the children’s sandbox is located on the street. This means that the kids will spend more time outdoors, and not sitting in front of the TV.

An important role in the development of children is played by plastic sandboxes located in the courtyard among urban high-rise buildings:

• Depending on the size, the playground is equipped with one or more sandboxes. Even if, say, three of them are installed, this is still not enough for an individual game. In this case, children’s sandboxes become the object of sharing. On the playground there are kids from different entrances. They develop common interests and develop friendships.
• The plastic sandbox allows the use of individual toys. Of particular interest to children is the product in the form of animals, fairy-tale characters or boats. In this case, the children’s sandbox itself is an individual toy, but several children can play with it at the same time.
• Even if there is no playground in the yard, there will always be a private trader who will bring a sand machine to repair the apartment. In such cases, prefabricated plastic sandboxes will help organize a place to play. It is enough just to take the structure out of the apartment to the entrance, quickly assemble it and ask the neighbor for a couple of buckets of sand, as soon as the kids come running.

In the development of a child’s psychology, it is very important to play with bright toys that are comfortable and pleasant to the touch. Plastic meets all these requirements. Plastic playing equipment for sand consists of shovels, molds, buckets, rakes and other items. Multi-colored toys create a good mood for children, bring a lot of positive. Compared to the old faded designs, plastic sandboxes are of more interest to toddlers. They are more pleasant to touch than painted sides made of wood or metal.

Plastic sandbox playpen for a small child

Many parents remember the old arena, where the baby was seated and toys were poured into it. A long stay in a confined space bothered the child. Now individual plastic sandboxes have appeared on sale, capable of replacing the arena from an early age. Colorful designs of small size are produced in the form of fairy-tale characters or simply in the form of a box with a lid. With the greatest probability, it can be noted that it is better to buy just such a plastic sandbox instead of an arena. For the baby, it is of greater interest.

An individual plastic sandbox can be installed even in a room by laying a film under it. The child will never get tired of playing in such an arena. He will not be capricious, and will have fun playing the whole day while mom is busy with other things.

Why plastic is considered the best sandbox material

The variety of ideas for making sandboxes is great, but it is plastic structures that are considered the safest. In addition, they are more comfortable for children. It’s like comparing an old chair to a new chair. You can sit on both objects, but the chair is still more comfortable.

Let’s get acquainted with the main advantages of a plastic sandbox:

• The compact dimensions allow you to carry a plastic sandbox from place to place, bring it into the apartment at night, play indoors if it rains outside.
• With the onset of cold weather, the sandbox can be stored indoors. It is especially convenient to do this with collapsible plastic structures. If necessary, it is easy to assemble in the game room. When playing indoors, it is not necessary to use sand. The filler can be rubber balls or other similar items.
• During the game, the baby will never stain clothes on plastic. There is no chance of driving a splinter or getting hurt by peeling paint.
• An excellent option is a plastic sandbox with a lid, which allows you not to be afraid for the purity of the sand. This loose filler is often used by yard cats and dogs for the toilet. The lid will prevent intrusion by animals, and will also keep sand from getting clogged with falling leaves from trees and other debris.
• There is a sandbox with a lid that can be used as a table. Simultaneously with the fun in the sand, the child gets the opportunity to be distracted by board games.
• A big plus of a plastic sandbox is the simple care of it. The design does not require annual painting, grinding and other repairs. Plastic is perfectly washed with any disinfectants, retains a bright color, and does not disappear in dampness.

Even a large plastic sandbox is characterized by light weight. You can easily bring it home from the store by public transport.

Choosing the best plastic play option for the baby

A modern manufacturer offers many plastic models. Sometimes it is difficult for parents to decide on the best option for playing their child. This issue must be approached slowly with the mind. Many children’s sandboxes are equipped with additional plastic elements for playing. And it’s not just small toys. The structures themselves are made in such a way that they are able to transform into a table, benches and other convenient devices.

When choosing such a toy, it is important to know the opinion of the child. It will depend on how he treats her. Let’s say the kid wanted to get a comfortable playing place with a table, and they bought him an ordinary plastic box. Naturally, after a couple of days, interest in such a toy will disappear, and an expensive purchase will be lying around, thrown into the pantry. However, along with the desire of the child, the opinion of the parents must also be taken into account. It is they who will have to take care of the plastic playground. Typically, plastic sandboxes hold about 40 kg of sand. The volume is small, however, it is better if it does not get dirty for a longer time. Whether the child likes it or not, it is better to give preference to a product with a lid.

Choosing high quality sand

So, the children’s plastic sandbox was bought, now it remains to fill it with sand. In rural areas, this issue is easier. You can visit a quarry or draw river sand. Alternatively, ask a neighbor. For urban residents, the problem of extracting free sand becomes more complicated. Unless there is a large construction site nearby. However, this is worth considering. A lot of money was paid for a plastic sandbox in order to maintain the hygiene of the child. What can you expect from sand collected on the street, where it was visited by cats and dogs?

It is optimal to give preference to purchased sand, specially designed for filling plastic sandboxes. When buying a filler, it is advisable to ask the seller for a certificate of product quality. It is better to unpack the bag and inspect the contents. Purified sand comes without impurities of clay or river silt. Solid grains of sand have excellent flowability and do not stick to the hand.

There is another plus in giving preference to purchased filler. The fact is that during cleaning, the sand undergoes a special treatment, after which sharp edges are smoothed out for each grain of sand. The use of such a filler is guaranteed not to leave small scratches on the plastic surface of the product.

Stationary plastic game complexes

For 3-5 children, a small sandbox is not enough. In this case, stationary gaming complexes are installed. The use of a large plastic structure is relevant in public playgrounds, for large families or friendly neighbors with kids.

A children’s sandbox in the form of a play complex can reach dimensions of 2×2 m. The height of the plastic board is usually limited to 40 cm. The design is most often equipped with additional elements for the game. This includes benches, a table, a canopy from the sun and other attributes. All additional elements are removable for easy transportation.

The canopy will allow the child to play outdoors in any weather. On a sunny day, the roof will protect the baby from overheating, and in cloudy weather – from rain. Benches with backs will create comfortable conditions for games at the table. Well, if they are able to transform into a cover. Covered sand will remain dry and clean at any time of the day. At night, the lid will prevent stray animals from polluting the sand, and in strong winds it will prevent it from blowing out.

A rather interesting solution for organizing a playground is represented by modular plastic sandboxes. The product resembles a designer. Its package includes from 4 to 8 plastic modules. To assemble the box, you only need to connect the required number of elements, but not less than four. Plastic modules allow you to give the sandbox a different geometric shape, while simultaneously adjusting the size of the playing area.

Modular plastic fencing does not have a bottom, roof or other fixtures. You will have to make the cover yourself or rainwater will simply pass through the sand and soak into the ground. For the manufacture of plastic modules, high-quality polyethylene and bright non-toxic dyes are used. The product weighs about 16 kg. This allows it to be easily transported and installed by one person. The disadvantage of low weight is the movement of the plastic fence from its permanent place or its tipping over by children. To make the structure heavier, the hollow modules are filled with water.

No matter how many modules a plastic sandbox is assembled from, it can be easily moved to another place. At the end of the summer season, the product is disassembled into individual elements, after which it is sent to be stored in a utility room.

Arrangement of a playground in the country

In the country, a plastic sandbox for children will help organize a great place to relax with a playground. The model can be chosen for the landscape design of the yard, but always with a lid. Plastic does not require any maintenance, so it will not take up the precious time of parents. In general, for country use, it is optimal to buy a molded plastic bowl with a bottom. This design can be used for playing with sand, as well as a small pool. A small amount of water will quickly warm up in the sun, and the child will be able to splash with pleasure.

Children’s collapsible model Nova

Among collapsible plastic sandboxes, the Nova model is quite popular. The product is suitable for indoor and outdoor play. The segments are made of high quality plastic. Comes with a waterproof awning. For outdoor installation, it can be used instead of a cover.

The Nova kit consists of six modules connected to each other with plastic bolts. They also attach an awning if necessary. The plastic sandbox is equipped with a bottom made of moisture-resistant material. The length of each module is 71 cm. When assembled, the height of the plastic boards is 24 cm, and the diameter of the structure is 1,2 m. The filler is ordinary or purchased sand, as well as special balls for pools.

The video shows different options for children’s plastic sandboxes:

DIY plastic sandbox

It is impossible to make a plastic sandbox with your own hands because of the inability to organize the entire production technology at home. Although craftsmen manage to find a way out of this situation. Plastic bottles familiar to everyone are used, but first a box frame is made from boards or timber.

Bottles take the same shape and size. Each lid is screwed with screws to a wooden base. At the same time, it is important to maintain the correct distance between them so that the screwed-in plastic bottles do not crumple, and there is no space between them. When all the corks around the perimeter of the base are screwed on, bottles are screwed onto them. Next, they take a soft wire, and stitch all the installed plastic containers together. The seam is made double: above and below the bottles. A photo will help to visualize how plastic bottles are stitched with wire.

Wire twists are hidden between two adjacent bottles. A wooden frame with a plastic bottle side is installed in the grooves, after which it is rammed with soil. The bottom inside the box is covered with moisture-resistant material, and sand is poured on top. Homemade plastic sandbox is ready to use.

Results

Returning to purchased plastic models, it should be noted that you should not save on buying cheap sandboxes. Poor-quality plastic has the ability to fade, decompose in the sun and release toxic substances.